MADRID: Argentina's far-right president Javier Milei called Spain's left-wing prime minister Pedro Sanchez a "dictator" in a visit to Madrid on Wednesday, urging voters to oust the Socialist party in upcoming elections.
"You are suffering under the disgraceful dictator Pedro Sanchez," Milei said at an economic forum in the Spanish capital, adding, "Kick the Socialists out, because you are the cradle of liberalism."
Milei's visit comes less than six weeks before Spain's tightly fought legislative elections on Nov 29.
He will not be meeting Sanchez during his visit but will see leaders of the far-right party Vox, as well as Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the right-wing leader of the Madrid region.
"I am clearly friends with (Vox leader) Santiago Abascal and with Isabel Diaz Ayuso, and I believe they have sound, positive ideas for pulling Spain out of its decline," he said.
The Argentine president launched a sharp attack on left-wing parties in Europe, accusing them of causing Europe's economic "stagnation" and of welcoming an "invasion" of immigrants.
Since taking office in late 2023, the firebrand libertarian has made several trips to Spain, frequently appearing alongside members of the Spanish far-right.
Earlier, Sanchez posted a short video on X in which he expressed pride in being "zurdo", a Spanish term often used pejoratively by the Argentine leader and the far right to refer to left-wing activists.